Comb-cutting machine.



P. H. KIRBY.

00MB CUTTING MACHINE.

APPLIOATION FILED JUNE8, 1912. RENEWED NOV. 18, 1913.

1,082,877 Patented Dec. 30, 1913,

2 S-HEETSSHEBT 1.

. l7 ZZ icfx m P. H. KIRBY.

00MB CUTTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 8, 1912.- RENEWED NOV. 18. 1913.

1,082,877,. r Patented Dec.30,1913.

2 SHEET S-SHEBT 2.

PATRICK H. KIRBY, F CLINTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

COMB-CUTTING MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed June 8, 1912, Serial No. 702,459.

Patented Dec. 30, 1913. Renewed November 18, 1913. Serial No. 801,745.

To all whom t'z/mag concern Be it known that I, PATRICK H. KIRBY,

' a citizen of the United States, residing at Clinton, in the county of Worcester and State of Massachusetts, have invented a new and useful Comb-Cutting Machine, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates particularly to a machine for cutting fine-tooth combs, that is, combs in which there are sets of teeth on opposite edges, although some of the features thereof are capable of use for cutting ordinary combs, which have teeth on one edge only.

The principal objects of the invention are to provide for automatically feeding the combs along a space at a time between the cutting operations; for automatically stopping the machine and withdrawing the cutting saw from contact with the comb on the completion of the comb, to provide means for simultaneously rotating a plurality of combs 180 degrees in order to present the uncut'edges to the cutting saw; to provide an improved form of frame for clamping the combs in position and a simple and convenient gage by which the combs can be set without measurements.

The invention also involves certain fea-' tures of construction and details of mechanism for accomplishing these purposes and one of the important advantages of the invention is the extreme simplicity of these several parts.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings in which Figure l is a plan of a machine constructed in accordance with this invention; Figs. 2 and 3 are opposite end elevations thereof; Fig. 1 is a sectional view on the line 44 of Fig. 1 on enlarged scale; Fig. 5 is a plan of a portion of the comb holding device on enlarged scale showing details thereof; Fig. 6 is a side view of one of the clamps with the parts in section, and Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the gage or templet.

The invention is shown as embodied in a machine mounted on a base 10 which is provided with bearings for a shaft 11. On this shaft is a loose pulley 12 for receiving power from a counter-shaft or the like. The hub of this pulley is provided with one or more sockets 13 arranged therearound on the end and the shaft is provided with a hub 14 fixed thereon provided with a pin 15 adapted to engage in any one of said sockets. A spring 16 is mounted between the two hubs normally to hold. the pulley away from contact with the pins 15so that power will not be transmitted.

Positive means is provided for forcing the pulley up toward the hub 14 so as to cause the pin 15 to enter one of the sockets 13. This positive means is shown in the form of a collar 17 fixed on the shaft by means of a set screw or the like and having a tooth 18 extending toward the pulley. Between the hub of the pulley and this collar is a ring 19 oscillatably mounted on the shaft and having a notch 20 in the edge for receiving the tooth 18. This ring is provided with a handle 21 by which it can be turned and it will be obvious that the turning of the handle to bring the ring into the position shown in Fig. 1 will permit the spring 16 to force the pulley 12 over to the left in that figure so that the pulley will run loose on the shaft. If, however, the ring 19 is turned in either direction, the action of the slanting surfaces of the notch 20 on the tooth 18 will result in forcing thering and pulley over to the right so that the pin 15 will enter one of the sockets l3 and the pulley will positively turn the shaft.

On the shaft 11 is a pinion 25 which meshes with and rotates a gear 26 on the shaft 27 of the machine. Consequently when the clutch is operated to cause the shaft 11 to be positively driven, the shaft 27 will rotate at a much lower speed. The shaft 27 has a longitudinal slot or keyway 28. On this shaft is mounted the comb holding frame 29 which comprises a pair of hubs 30 each preferably having an inwardly extending projection or key 3O ex tending into the longitudinal slot 28 in the shaft 27. These hubs with the frame are slidable along the shaft and the frame is positively rotated by the shaft in all positions thereof. The frame is made up of end pieces 31 connected with the hubs and each having bearings (in the present instance four) on the inner side thereof for the ends of a series of comb clamps. These comb clamps are shown, each in the form of a bar 33 having recesses 34 for springs 35 which normally press away from the bar 33 a second clamping bar 36. Screws or bolts 36 are also secured to the bar 33 concentric with the springs and the jaw 36 slides on each pair of journals extends through its end frame and is provided with a pinion 39 011 the end. These four pinions mesh with a gear 40 rotatably mounted on the frame and concentric with the shaft 27, so that when the gear is turned or when any one of the pinions is turned, all of the pinions and comb holding clamps will be turned equal distances. The frame is provided with a spring-pressed lever 41. having a pin 42 adapted to enter one or more sockets in the gear 40 to hold the same in position.

In Fig. 7 is shown a templet or gage 45 having a flat surface and two opposite projections 46 and 47 on opposite edges substantially at right angles thereto. The flat surface is substantially equal in width to the distance of the edge of a comb from the side of the comb clamp when the comb is in central position therein. The operation of this part of the device is very simple. On a comb blank A is placed a gage 45 with the member 46 extending along the edge there of and in contact therewith and the opposite edge of the comb is moved into a comb clamp until the member 47 brings up against the side thereof, then the cam lever 38 is operated to lock the bar 36 down on the comb and it will be found that the comb is centrally located on the clamp. Each of the clamps on the frame is supplied with a comb if desired. The comb clamps are then set at the proper angle by turning the gears and pinions 39 and 40 when the pin 42 comes into one of the sockets in the gear 40. This holds the parts in this position until it is desired to change them. After all the teeth on one edge of the several combs have been cut, the operator presses on the spring end of the lever 41 to withdraw the pin 42, turns the gears and pinions through half a revolution of the latter, which allows the pin 42 to enter a socket in the gear 40 preferably located to receive it then. This holds the combs in position for cutting the other set of teeth.

For the purpose of feeding the comb frame along the shaft 27 a definite distance each time a tooth is cut, the following mechanism is shown :On the shaft 27 is a segmental gear 50 adapted to mesh with a segmental rack 51 mounted to oscillate about a stud 52 as a center. The segmental rack is provided with a spring pawl 53 engaging a gear 54 also on the stud 52. The segmental rack 51 is provided also with a projection 55 adapted to bring up against an adjustable stop 56 and connect with a spring 57 for normally urging it in a direction to cause the pawl to operate the gear 54. The segment 50 turns in a direct-ion to move the rack 51 in the apposite way so as to cause the pawl to slip over the gear 54. It will be seen, therefore, that upon each complete rotation of the shaft 27, the rack 51 will be sent to the right in Fig. 3 by the pinion 5O and'then, upon the further rotation of the shaft, will be released from the control of this pinion so that the spring 57 will swing it back to the left, taking with it the gear 54. Another spring controlled pawl 58 is provided for preventing reverse motion of the gear 54. This gear meshes with a pinion 60 on a shaft 61 which is provided with a screw-thread throughout most of its length and the comb holding frame is provided with a feeding frame 62 which is oscillatably mounted with respect to the comb holding frame but is not movable endwise with respect thereto. This feeding frame has a half or segmental nut 63 which engages the screw-threaded part of the shaft 61 so that upon each complete revolution of the shaft 27 there is a short period of time during which the shaft 61. rotates and causes the nut to travel along it. This moves the comb holding frames along the shaft 27. These parts are so designedpreferably that the frame will move the space of one tooth at each revolution and that themovement will take place while the comb holding frame is moving through less than a quarter of a revolution, and this an idle one so far as the cutting operation is concerned. This nut and its frame can be swung upwardly about the shaft 27, to release it from the screw. Then it is used as a handle to slide the comb frame along the shaft 27 On the comb holding frame is mounted a finger 65 which, when the frame has reached the end of its stroke or any other predetermined position, comes into a position to engage an arm 66 which forms a part of a stopping lever 66. This stopping lever is provided with a spring 67 for holding it in position, and with a notch 68. This notch is engaged by an arm 69 on a shaft 7 0 and the shaft is provided with another arm 71 operated by a spring 72 to turnthe shaft normally to tend to force the arm 69 outwardly from the notch 68. The shaft also has a handle 73 for operating it. On this shaft are mounted standards 75 having bearings for a shaft 7 6 on'which is mount ed a pulley 77 for receiving power from any desired source and also the comb cutting saw 78. This shaft is adjust-ably mounted by means of a bolt and nut 79. It will be seen, therefore, that when the comb cutting operation is completed, the arm 69 is rement also has another effect by reason of the position to permit the tooth 18 and notch.

20 to register and to disconnect the shaft 11 from the power.

The operation of the machine has been set forth in full in connection with the description of the several elements and it is neces sary therefore only to recapitulate. The combs having been inserted in the several holders or clamps and the lever 73 turned to bring the comb cutting saw up into position, such as indicated in Fig. 4, between two of the gears, the clutch will be automatically thrown in so as to apply power to the machine through the pulley 12 and the shaft 27 will commence to rotate. Just before each complete rotation is accomplished, the shaft 61 is turned enough to move the comb holding frame along one space, this operation taking place while a comb is approaching the saw. This operation continues automatically until the comb is completed and then the machine is automatically stopped and the saw automatically withdrawn, as previously described, so that if the attendant does not notice when the operation is finished, no harm will be done to the combs that have been operated upon. Then the operator withdraws the pin 42, rotates the pinions 89 a half revolution, and thus brings the combs into the opposite position so that the opposite edge can be out. He also lifts the nut 63 from the shaft 61 and moves the frame back to the starting position thereby, and then throws in the power and moves the saw up into operative position by means of the lever 73. Then the operation will be repeated automatically on the opposite edges of the combs.

Although I have illustrated and described a single embodiment of the invention, I am aware of the fact that the principles herein set fort-l1 can be carried out in many other forms without departing from the scope of the invention as expressed in the claims. Therefore, I do not wish to be limited to all the details of construction or to the particular combination of parts herein shown and described, but

What I do claim is 1. In a comb cutting machine, the combination of a pair of shafts parallel with each other and rotatable in stationary bearings, a frame for holding combs mounted to rotate with one shaft but capable of moving therealong, and a member pivotally mounted on said frame to swing about one of said shafts and having a segmental nut thereon adapted to rest on the other shaft, said other shaft being provided with a screw-thread for receiving the nut, whereby when said member is in contact with the second shaft the rotation of the second shaft will feed the comb holder along the first shaft, and whereby the pivotal member can be swung up by hand to stop the feed.

2. In a comb cutting machine, the combination of a shaft, a frame rotatable with said shaft and movable therealong, a second shaft having a screw-thread thereon, a feeding frame connected to and movable along the first named shaft to carry the frame with it, and having a segmental nut resting on said screw-thread, whereby the nut can be swung up out of contact with the screw-thread, and the feeding frame can be used to move the first named frame along the shaft, yielding means for intermittently rotating the screw-threaded shaft in one direction, and positive means connected with the first-named shaft and operated thereby for restoring the yielding means after each operation thereof.

3. In a comb cutting machine, the combination of two shafts, a frame rotatable with one of said shafts and movable therealong, the other shaft having a screw-thread thereon, a half nut engaging said screw-thread and connected with said frame, means con- I nected with the first shaft for intermittently rotating the screw-threaded shaft in one di rection, said means comprising a segmental gear or pinion on the first named shaft, a segmental rack meshing therewith, yielding means for swinging the rack in one direction, a gear mounted to turn on the same axis as the rack, and a pinion on the screwthreaded shaft constantly meshing with said ear.

4. In a comb cutting machine, the combination of two shafts, a frame rotatable with one of said shafts and movable therealong, the other shaft having a screw-thread thereon, a half nut engaging said screw-thread and connected with said frame, a segmental gear or pinion on the shaft carrying the frame, a segmental rack adapted to mesh therewith and to swing about an axis, a spring for swinging said rack about its axis in a direction opposite that in which it is moved by the pinion, a gear adapted to turn on the same axis as the rack, a pawl for connecting the rack with said gear during the motion which it has by reason of the spring, and a pinion meshing with the gear and fixed on said screw-threaded shaft.

5. In a comb cutting machine, the combination of two shafts, a frame rotatable with one of said shafts and movable therealong, a segmental gear or pinion fixed on the shaft on which the frame is located, a segmental rack meshing therewith and mounted to swing about an axis, yielding means for swinging the rack in one direction, a gear mounted to oscillate with the rack, a pinion fixed on the other shaft constantly meshing with said gear, and means connected with said other shaft for intermittently moving the frame along its shaft.

6. In a comb cutting machine, the combination of a comb frame, means for inter-, mittently moving said frame longitudinally,

a comb cutting saw adapted to operate on the combs held by the frame, a spring for normally moving said comb cutting saw back out of operative position, a lever connected with said frame for preventing the operation of the spring, means for tripping the lever and allowing the spring to operate when the frame reaches a predetermined limit, and means connected with and operated by the spring for throwing the power off.

7, In a comb cutting machine, the combination of a rotary comb holding device, means for feeding said comb holding device longitudinally and periodically, means whereby a plurality of combs carried by said comb holding device can be simultaneously turned end for end, a finger movable and rotatable with said frame, a lever in position to be engaged by said finger when the frame is moved to a definite position along the shaft, and means connected with said lever for throwing ofi the power.

8. In a comb cutting machine, the combination of a rotary comb holding frame, means for feeding said comb holding device longitudinally, a finger movable and rotatable with said frame, a lever in position to be engaged by said finger when the frame is moved to a definite position along the shaft, means connected with said lever for throwing off the power, and a comb cutting saw movable by the operation of said lever out of position for engaging combs held by the frame.

9. In a comb cutting machine, the combination of a shaft, means for rotating said shaft, a comb frame, means for moving said frame along the shaft, a comb cutting saw adapted to operate on the combs held by the frame, means connected with said frame for automatically moving said comb cutting saw out of operative position when the frame 7 reaches a predetermined limit, and means connected with and operated by the last named means for throwing the power off the first named shaft.-

10. In a comb cutting machine, the combination of a shaft, means for rotating said shaft, a frame for holding combs, means for moving said frame along the shaft, a lever adapted to be operated by the frame when it reaches a predetermined limit, a saw adapted to operate on the combs held by the frame, an oscillatable shaft having an arm thereon for engaging said lever, resilient means for moving said oscillatable shaft in a direction to swing said arm away from the lever, and a frame on the oscillatable shaft for supporting said Saw.

11. In a comb cutting machine, the combination of a shaft, means for rotating said shaft, a frame, means for moving said frame along the shaft, a comb cutting saw adapted to operate on the combs held by the frame, a lever, an oscillatable shaft having an arm thereon adapted to engage the lever, resilient means for swinging the arm away from the lever and turning the oscillatable shaft with it, a pulley slidably mounted on the main shaft, a clutch at one side of the pulley for positively connecting it with the main shaft, a spring for forcing the pulley in an opposite direction, and means connected with said oscillatcble shaft for positively moving the pulley in opposition to the spring and for releasing the pulley to allow the spring to move it out of engagement with the clutch.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

PATRICK H. KIRBY. Witnesses:

James R. EUSTAOE, JOHN H. OBRIEN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Gommissioner of Patents.

Washington, ,9. 03 

